Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The King of Shining-Greatness
24 The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it, the world, and all who live in it. 2 For He has built it upon the seas. He has set it upon the rivers. 3 Who may go up the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart. He who has not lifted up his soul to what is not true, and has not made false promises. 5 He will receive what is good from the Lord, and what is right and good from the God Who saves him. 6 Such is the family of those who look for Him, who look for Your face, O God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates. And be lifted up, O doors that last forever. And the King of shining-greatness will come in. 8 Who is the King of shining-greatness? The Lord strong and powerful. The Lord powerful in war. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates. Lift them up, O doors that last forever and the King of shining-greatness will come in. 10 Who is the King of shining-greatness? The Lord of All. He is the King of shining-greatness.
The Children of Israel Leave Sinai
11 On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud was lifted from over the meeting tent of the Law. 12 The people of Israel moved on from the Desert of Sinai. Then the cloud came down and rested in the desert of Paran. 13 So they moved for the first time as the Lord had told them through Moses. 14 The flag of the people of Judah left first, by their armies. Amminadab’s son Nahshon was the head of their army. 15 Zuar’s son Nethanel was the head of the men of Issachar. 16 And Helon’s son Eliab was the head of the men of Zebulun.
17 When the meeting tent was taken down, the sons of Gershon and Merari left carrying it. 18 Next the flag of the people of Reuben left, by their armies. Shedeur’s son Elizur was the head over this army. 19 Zurishaddai’s son Shelumiel was the head of the men of Simeon. 20 Deuel’s son Eliasaph was the head of the men of Gad. 21 Then the Kohathites left, carrying the holy objects. The meeting tent was set up before they came to the next place. 22 Next the flag of the people of Ephraim left, by their armies. Ammihud’s son Elishama was the head over this army. 23 Pedahzur’s son Gamaliel was the head of the men of Manasseh. 24 Gideoni’s son Abidan was the head of the men of Benjamin.
25 Then the flag of the people of Dan left, by their armies. They followed behind all the people of Israel, to watch for danger. Ammishaddai’s son Ahiezer was the head over this army. 26 Ochran’s son Pagiel was the head of the men of Asher. 27 And Enan’s son Ahira was the head of the men of Naphtali. 28 This was how the people of Israel moved on by their armies.
29 Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are going to the place the Lord said He will give to us. Come with us and we will do you good. For the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 30 But Hobab said to him, “I will not come. I will go to my own land and family.” 31 Moses said, “I beg you, do not leave us. For you know where we should stay in the desert. You will be like eyes for us. 32 If you go with us, we will do for you whatever good the Lord does for us.”
33 So they traveled for three days from the mountain of the Lord with the special box with the Law of the Lord in front of them looking for a place for them to rest. 34 The cloud of the Lord was over them during the day, when they moved on.
35 When the special box of the Lord moved on, Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! Let those who hate You be divided. Let those who hate You run away before You.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel.”
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When the time came, Elizabeth gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and family heard how the Lord had shown loving-kindness to her. They were happy for her. 59 On the eighth day they did the religious act of the Jews on the child. They named him Zacharias, after his father. 60 But his mother said, “No! His name is John.” 61 They said to her, “No one in your family has that name.”
62 Then they talked to his father with their hands to find out what he would name the child. 63 He asked for something to write on. He wrote, “His name is John.” They were all surprised and wondered about it. 64 Zacharias was able to talk from that time on and he gave thanks to God.
65 All those who lived near them were afraid. The news of what had happened was told through all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all who heard those words remembered them and said, “What is this child going to be?” For the hand of the Lord was on him.
Zacharias’ Song of Thanks to God
67 Zacharias, the father of John, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He told what was going to happen, saying, 68 “Let us thank the Lord God of Israel. He has bought His people and made them free. 69 He has raised up from the family of David One Who saves people from the punishment of their sins. 70 His holy early preachers told us this long ago. 71 God told us that we should be saved from those who hate us and from all those who work against us. 72 He would show loving-kindness to our early fathers. He would remember His holy promise. 73 God promised this to our early father Abraham. 74 He promised that we would be saved from those who hate us and that we might worship Him without being afraid. 75 We can be holy and right with God all the days of our life.
76 “And you, my son, will be the one who speaks for the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to make the way ready for Him. 77 You will tell His people how to be saved from the punishment of sin by being forgiven of their sins. 78 Because the heart of our God is full of loving-kindness for us, a light from heaven will shine on us. 79 It will give light to those who live in darkness and are under the shadow of death. It will lead our feet in the way of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in a desert until the day he started to preach to the Jews.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.